The sound of a door closing and the tap of a staff against the wooden floor alerted the warrior and his short companion about the priestess's approach. The warrior looked up from his breakfast and watched as the priestess moved towards their table.

"You did not come out to eat dinner last night," said the warrior.

"Save your concern, Gameth. My meditations to Krypta and my rest was all I required last night." She sat down at her prepared place and started to pick through the cold bread and stale meat.

The small green-cloaked man squeaked in a shrill voice, "Oh, Gameth just peppered because Yellow Sky got to eat your meal last night before he did." A mask made out of tree bark was pushed back till it covered the top of his head like a flat hat while the little man ate his breakfast.

Gameth snorted at the green-cloaked cultist. "You eat too much for your size, Yellow Sky. And you snore louder than a Werewolf with flu."

The little cultist named Yellow Sky grinned. "You should see Yellow Sky drink. Too bad the ale here is too bland to fill Yellow Sky's stomach. Perhaps he should give the innkeeper some special ingredients to throw into the brew barrel."

"Not if you want to see this place still standing when we return."

The priestess listened half-heartedly as she ate. The bantering between her two companions had become a normal start to the day.

Gameth finished his bread and blanched. "I can't believe how much I paid for this." He looked at the priestess. "So, Lydith. What next?"

"The roads are too open. I don't want anyone following us to have such an easy time at it."

Gameth reached into his tunic, pulled out an old map and spread it on the table. "Then we get off the Kings Highway and push eastwards to the Morning Star mountains and then north towards the caverns." He nodded to himself thoughtfully. "There're bandits up those mountains, especially at this time of year."

"Yellow Sky knows a better way," sang Yellow Sky in a childish, mocking manner as he stole a piece of bread from Lydith's plate.

"And what might that be?"

"We go west. To the Forest of Dreams. And then we go to caverns."

Gameth covered his eyes with one hand in exasperation. "The Forest of Dreams is an even more dangerous place than the mountains. And you wouldn't even fill a spider's stomach."

"Not so dangerous," came the quick reply. "And spiders won't eat Yellow Sky after he charms them to eat you instead."

"That's enough." The warrior and cultist turned to face Lydith. "I want nobody following us. And the chances are that no one will follow us into the forest."

Gameth grunted as he picked up his map. "Suit yourself. Just stick close to the cultist, he probably thinks it would be amusing to leave us in the forest."


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As Lydith made her approached her home, she heard the distinct sound of wood being chopped. Upon reaching the front porch, she went around the side of the house and, as expected, saw her father chopping firewood at an old tree-stump. Her father looked up and wiped sweat off his brow. Gray had begun its descent on his dark hair which was once as dark as Lydith's.

"Disgraceful, I tell you," he said. "Fifteen years as a village woodcutter and I still run out of firewood in my own house!"

Lydith giggled. Her father's dry humor always found its mark in her. "Maybe if you pry your stingy fingers off your purse and buy another axe, I could chop wood too."

Her father grinned. He then nodded towards the house. "Ready for a surprise? There's someone here to see you."

"Really? Megan's here?"

"No, not Megan. Why don't you go in and see for yourself?"

Lydith moved to the front door and entered the small house. She had lived here in this house all her life. The front porch entered into a small living room and kitchen, with two bedrooms towards the back. Apart from the new paint she and her father applied last summer, nothing much ever changed in the house. The inside of the house was slightly dark, the sun never really managed to pry its way into the rooms.

A robed figure sat at the kitchen table. Lydith recognized the person at once and ran to embrace her. "Aunt Daedra!"

The priestess stood up to receive the embrace. Her robes were reddish-maroon, a sign of long-usage for anyone in her profession. "Careful, child! I just came in and you might get dirt all over your lovely blouse."

But Lydith did not care and hugged her aunt. Aunt Daedra was not really related to Lydith, she was her mother's closest friend when her mother was alive. Together, they had traveled to many far places before Lydith's mother decided to settle down with her father. Aunt Daedra continued to serve her profession, visiting every few years to see her friend as well as Lydith who was born within a year of her mother's marriage.

One day, when Lydith was twelve, Aunt Daedra had returned with urgent news and, without even explaining the reason to Lydith or her father, her mother left with Aunt Daedra. Two months passed before they saw Aunt Daedra walking slowly back to the house alone. Even before she heard the news, Lydith knew that her mother would never come back home again.

Since then, Aunt Daedra had visited several times, each visit filled with doting on her goddaughter as she called Lydith. The last visit was a year ago, and as Lydith hugged her aunt, she could feel the years between those visits just vanish.

"I'm so happy to see you, Aunt Daedra! You'll sleep in my room again, won't you? How long are you back for this time?"

Aunt Daedra smiled at the girl she had watched grow up over the years. "Not very long, I'm afraid. A few days, and then I'm off to Krypta's Temple in Necroselleum. Come, child, I have a gift for you."

Lydith released her aunt and watched as she took out a brown pouch from the confines of her robes. Lydith took the pouch and opened it. She delicately reached in with her fingers and drew out a thin, golden necklace with a small pendant shaped like a tear-drop. In the middle of the pendant, a small maroon jewel seemed to glow with its own light.

Lydith stared at the maroon jewel in wonder. "It's beautiful, Aunt Daedra."

"Not as beautiful as it would look on you, child. Try it on."

Lydith put the necklace on and tried to glance downwards to see herself. Aunt Daedra gave a low chuckle. "Silly child, you'll twist your own head off doing that! You can walk to the lake later on when there's still light to see your reflection from there. Meanwhile, it's getting close to dinner time. Who's cooking tonight?"

"Father," replied Lydith, still trying to view herself.

"What? Tomas? Cook? Come, let me rescue ourselves and prepare us a safer meal!"

Both Lydith and her aunt laughed as they moved into the kitchen.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tomas closed the kitchen door and sat down in front of Aunt Daedra. Not concerned like many in the presence of a priestess, he proceeded to finish his dinner. Bread and cheese with some left-over gravy. Megan had come around earlier asking for Lydith and both the girls had run off someplace, Tomas giving them a stern warning to stay away from the forest and be back by sundown.

Aunt Daedra observed him as he ate. "Lydia always said that you couldn't care less if the world stopped turning once you've started eating."

Tomas wiped some gravy off the side of his mouth. "She normally said that as an indirect self-praise to her own cooking."

Aunt Daedra smiled. Lips painted black pulled back against a white-powdered face, an unnerving sight for any witness apart from Tomas. "You know her as well as I do." A thought passed in the priestess's eyes. "In many ways, Lydith is a lot like her mother."

Tomas finished his simple meal and leaned back. Aunt Daedra could see that the years of simple living had not dulled the man's mind; focused thought tinged with slight suspicion reflected from his expression. "Alright, Daedra. What do you want?"

"I think you already know what I want. Lydia was one of the greatest among our brethren, one of the most powerful among the followers of Krypta. What took many years for ordinary folk to learn, she mastered within a few months." Daedra leaned forward. "Many say that she was a chosen one of Krypta. A true daughter of the infernal goddess. Born with the power already infused within her bones. There are not many whom the goddess favors."

A slight flicker drifted across Tomas's face. "And so what makes you think Lydith is part of this?"

"Everyone in the Order knows that Krypta is very, very much a woman and a mother. If Lydia was one of Her daughters, that would make Lydith something of a granddaughter to the goddess." She brushed an imaginary crumb off the table. "And grandmothers are known to be very attached to their grandchildren."

Tomas gazed down at his empty plate. "Lydith makes her own decisions. I will not stand in her way or her choices." He looked up. "However, you might find it difficult to get her to follow you. I heard that the Daurosians are here and Megan, the one who called Lydith out just now, is with them. I'm afraid Lydith might have other plans for her own future."

Aunt Daedra stared out the kitchen window. "We'll see about that. The will of Krypta is not so easily thwarted."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Dauros's Blessings, Father Duncan!"

The saintly old monk of Dauros turned and regarded the two girls. "Ah, Megan! I was looking for you. We might have to leave a bit earlier than expected." He looked at Lydith.

Megan waved a hand extravagantly at Lydith. "This is my good friend Lydith." Lydith was slightly embarrassed as she did a small curtsy. "Good evening, Father Duncan."

Father Duncan nodded in approval. "Dauros bless you, young one. Are you also a friend of Sharielle?"

Lydith froze as if she had heard a demon's name. "I um.. see her around. Now and then."

"Hello, Father Duncan! I see you've met Lydith." Sharielle approached the group, surprisingly without her little horde of followers.

Father Duncan glanced back at Lydith and she thought saw a disturbed look in the monk's eyes. "Oh, yes. Quite right."

Megan ignored the newcomer and patted Lydith on the back. "Father Duncan, I want to put Lydith forward to join us at Basille. She is a great sport and I just know you'll be pleased with her."

"Ah. I've already done some recruiting myself." He gestured at Sharielle. "Sharielle here will be joining us. I've already spoken to her father who is absolutely delighted at his daughter's choice." The same troubled look crossed the monk's face again. "However, for Lydith, I'm afraid we cannot take her with us."

Megan gave Father Duncan a stunned look. "But why not?"

"Lydith's background is slightly.. unique and I'm afraid it is against the regulations of the Order for her to join us."

Why you scheming little.., Lydith took a step forward towards Sharielle who promptly moved behind the monk. Father Duncan frowned at the furious girl.

"I am so sorry, young one. But the law of Dauros is very specific. We cannot compromise, even for one case."

Megan wisely pulled Lydith behind her as she stepped in front of the monk of Dauros. "But Father Duncan, I've known Lydith for years and I can tell you that she'll be the best addition to our Order! She even runs faster than me!"

But the monk only shook his head sadly and sighed. "There is nothing I can do, young Megan." He turned towards the village inn where he was staying. "We leave at first light tomorrow." He moved off so suddenly that Sharielle found herself unprotected from the other two girls. She quickly back-stepped and started towards her own nearby home. "See you tomorrow, Megan. And goodbye, Lydith." There was a gloating tone in her voice.

Megan turned back at her friend and was shocked to see tears streaming down Lydith's face. She put her arm around Lydith's shoulders and tried to soothe her.

"Please don't, Lydith. It'll all be okay. I swear when I get back to Basille to our training grounds, I'll make that spoilt little wretch's life a living hell. There's a pond of mud under the monkey-swings which I promise will have Sharielle's face in it before the week is out."

The thought of Sharielle thrashing in the mud with Megan throttling her made Lydith hiccup slightly. "Too bad I won't be there to see it."

The two friends walked away into the night, back to Lydith's home.